Species Profile
Common Hatchetfish
Gasteropelecus sternicla
Hatchetfishpeaceful
Adult size
2.5″
Minimum tank
20 gal
Temperature
73–81°F
pH
6–7.5
Schooling
Group of 6+
Water level
top
Diet
Floating flake, surface frozen, small live
Notes
Surface-dwelling living missile, ready to jump at the slightest disturbance. Tight-fitting lid mandatory, with no gaps for them to wriggle through. Catches flying insects in the wild; floating live or freeze-dried food brings out natural behavior.
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Common Hatchetfish
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Common Hatchetfishin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.
Neon Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Cardinal Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Rummynose Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Zebra Danio
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Endler's Livebearer
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Swordtail
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Male Betta
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: Neale Monks / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-3.0